Words Spoken True: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

I haven't read any of Ann H. Gabhart's other novels, but after reading Words Spoken True, I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I found Words Spoken True to be very unique and enjoyable to read. While it's a historical novel, there was a lot of suspense (and I do mean a LOT), in part because of the serial killer named "The River Slasher" and trying to catch him/her. I don't think I've ever read a historical book before that had a serial killer in it... or even heard of one.

And while Words Spoken True was heavy on the suspense (which I loved) it also had much romance - so for those who love romantic books, this is for you!

There are a few really intimate scenes (i.e. a marriage being consummated) and while I didn't love these scenes being in the book, it fit the story and wasn't explicit - so I didn't have a problem with it.

Ann Gabhart had great characters in Words Spoken True - I loved them! My favorites were Adriane, Blake, Beck, and Duff (oh, and Mr. O'Mallory, the old dog!). The way Blake and Adriane acted toward one another from the beginning was just hilarious and sweet! Yes, their papers were enemies, but in spite of that, they both felt attractions toward each other.

"The River Slasher" was really, really creepy... how he/she was so cold and evil was just horrible! I was very uncertain about what might happen at the end of the book and found Words Spoken True hard to put down!

Words Spoken True was a great book that I absolutely loved reading! I am very much hoping for a sequel and I recommend it if you enjoy romance novels with suspense! :)

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

"Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."

Spirited daughter of a news paper mogul, Adriane Darcy is engaged to a man she does not love. However, she is determined to honour God and her father in obedience and go through with the wedding. However when Adriane meets Blake Garrett (an editor from a competing newspaper) at a society event they are both covering, the sparks fly. It is love at first sight... sigh... What's a girl to do when she is engaged to a snobby socialite, but she wants her father's enemy?

While I did enjoy this novel I thought that the story really didn't get rolling until about the half way point. I also kept waiting for the sparks to continue to fly after Adriane and Blake's first meeting, but there was very little contact between them for quite sometime. I suppose it is possible to fall in love at first sight, but my cynical mind has a hard time accepting that.

The second half of the book increased its intensity and I was definitely engaged in the story. The subplot in the book also became more interesting as the story progressed. While I did enjoy the book, I did not find myself ignoring household chores like I do when reading a novel I can not seem to put down.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

I finished Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart on Saturday. I had been reading it off and on all week a chapter at time. I found that about page 100 was the point of no return in this book. I hit that mark Saturday morning and finished the book Saturday afternoon. Loved it!

I feel like I've been ultra-lucky lately because I have read so many Christian fiction books that have really good, decent male leads. Sometimes the love interest in a volume is a bit too stuffy or sanctimonious for my tastes, but I haven't bumped into one of those in a while and Blake Garrett in this book continued that streak. He was delightful...so much so that I feel him and Adriane Darcy were equal characters in this book instead of him being a convenient foil.

In this volume, there are two majorly competing newspapers in the town of Louisville, Kentucky (which I learned was actually a major city at the time when this book was written). Adriane Darcy is the daughter of the Tribune editor and has grown up in the press room. Blake is the editor of the Herald (though not the owner). Tension is supposed to ensue here, and it does....but it was the type of tension that tingles with sparks that let the reader know that it is not going to progress into Pride & Prejudice territory with both characters loathing each other until the end. Blake and Adrian only have a couple of terse exchanges before we learn that they are basically compatible people...but there are other problems.

Namely, the fact that Adriane is engaged to another man named Stanley Jimson (who you never like much, so don't feel sorry for him in the end!). Stanley's father is a political big whig running for office as part of the "Know Nothing Party" and, unfortunately, he mostly owns the Tribune because Adriane's dad needed to borrow money from him at different times. Problems, problems, problems. What should she do? Marry Stanley to pay her father's debt and save the paper or do what she wants to do with her life? And will that even matter after....I'm not going there!!!!

I really enjoyed this book, and loved the character development with Adriane and Blake (as mentioned above) and the texture added to secondary characters such as Grace (an abolitionist, feminist teacher Adriane attended school under), Beck (works in the tribune press room), and Duff (who brings tips Adriane way and is out to help cash a serial killer who is slashing women in Louisville).

This book has some unexpected twists in the last 1/4 to 1/2 and ties up every subplot in the volume quite nicely. I highly recommend it!

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this volume.